Testimonials
"I am extremely grateful to have been able to have Rise and LSAT Lab as a Launchpad Scholar. The LSAT can be such a daunting undertaking but my studying process was much better because of the help I received from Laura and the other LSAT tutors. The combination of live classes, 1:1 sessions with Laura, and curated exercises really helped me understand general concepts better and work specifically on the skills I needed to improve. The biggest challenge for me was understanding the rules of logical reasoning and through the sessions I had with Laura, she helped me come up with strategies that worked best for me and helped me improve on the logical reasoning section. I started this journey with a 150 diagnostic score and ended six months later with a 172! Working a full-time and part-time job while studying for this exam was very challenging, but I was able to do it because Laura helped me quickly recognize the sections I needed to improve in, provided me with strategies to tackle the question types I struggled with, and guided me to use my study hours effectively. Using LSAT Lab held me accountable, provided me with resources to achieve my goals, and encouraged me to stay the course and think about the bigger dreams I had for law school as I studied. Now, I feel confident heading into the application cycle knowing that I am a competitive candidate and excited for the next part of my law school journey."
Chase L.
p
150-167-172
"RISE transformed my LSAT journey, helping me achieve a 25-point climb from my diagnostic to my official June score. As a first-generation college student balancing school and part-time work, I found invaluable support in my instructor, Laura Damone. Her accessibility and understanding were crucial to my success.The comprehensive resources provided by RISE and LSAT Lab, from live classes to video libraries, cheat sheets, practice tests, and thousands of practice questions, coupled with personalized accountability through office hours and one-on-ones, created a well-rounded study environment. LSATLab's analytical tools allowed me to track my progress in LR, RC, and LG, which really motivated me.
I found this program to be more than just LSAT prep; it was life-changing, especially as a student from a marginalized background. RISE's intentional approach to individual circumstances sets it apart. If you're aiming for significant LSAT improvement and looking for a program that truly invests in your success, I can't recommend RISE strongly enough."
Tristan J.
p
148-164-173
"Laura has been instrumental in helping me figure out and address the faults that resulted in me losing points every test. The LSAT Lab platform was a game changer as it broke everything down into a manageable schedule and allowed me to see where my weak points were as I approached test day.
Laura provided the much-needed, human-sounding board that made this platform’s approach fully effective. When I was stuck on a question I had gotten wrong, or simply felt like I wasn’t understanding the reasoning behind a correct answer, Laura was always available to go over the problems I was struggling with and to provide alternative ways of thinking about and approaching similar question types. Without her wealth of LSAT knowledge and her individualized support, I wouldn’t have been able to score as well as I did when test day approached.
I also appreciated the weekly mindset curriculum that Laura integrated into our study schedules. The anxiety of having to perform well after months of studying would have been debilitating if it weren’t for Laura’s constant support throughout the process and her emphasis on creating a good mindset for test day. Due to her expertise with all things LSAT and her experience coaching and supporting individuals and groups through their studying journeys, I felt confident when I entered 'test day' that it was going to be my 'best day'!"
Otice C.
p
156-174
"When I first started studying for the LSAT, I was completely overwhelmed by the amount of content we need to learn to simply understand the LSAT in the first place. Joining the LSAT Lab program was a game-changer for me. The way the program is structured helped me figure out what I need to learn, where I needed to improve and gave me the tools to tackle my weaknesses and maximize my strengths.
My instructor, Laura Damone, was amazing. She knew everything about the LSAT and used that knowledge to create exercises that specifically targeted my problem areas. She was also incredibly supportive, combining encouragement with just the right amount of confidence boosting exercise to keep me going even during the most frustrating moments. Whenever I felt frustrated or stuck, her advice and experience helping others guided me in staying focused and confident. Overall, Laura’s ability to motivate us individually and as a community made the whole process feel less isolating and easier to manage. On top of that, Laura’s feedback on my personal statement and application materials was a huge help. She pointed out areas that needed improvement and helped me refine my essays to make them truly stand out, all in a very short turnaround in order to allow me to apply as quickly as
possible with my best foot forward.
Overall, the LSAT Lab program and its fantastic instructors were crucial to my success. Their expertise and dedication made a huge difference, and I can’t recommend this program enough."
Hilary A.
p
153-165-168
NYU Law
"I self-studied between January and June of 2021 and then again in October 2022 through January 2023 because I couldn't afford a private tutor. When I joined Catalyst I had the opportunity to work with Laura as a member of the 2023 SEO Catalyst cohort. Laura helped me improve my confidence tremendously. She offered me study and test taking strategies and helped me address areas I didn't even know I struggled with. I feel much more prepared to enter law school as a result of Laura's suggestions for coping with various test taking difficulties. Laura was very patient and always made herself available for additional questions, late night panics, and quick advice. With Laura I was able to master logic games, approach reading comprehension without freezing up, and recognize and respond quickly to patterns in logical reasoning. My first score was obtained through self-study as a busy college student in 2021. I was hesitant to retake the exam as many times as I did, mainly for financial concerns, but I'm very thankful Laura helped guide me through the process and helped me realize my potential. I don't think I could have reached my final score in October of 2023 without Laura. I am so appreciative of her encouragement throughout my application process and into my career."
Amira F.
p
150-155-159-164
Northwestern Law
"I've had an incredible journey with Rise. From my November 2021 score to my most recent September 2022 score, I have increased by 13 points. I have had a long history with the LSAT and have tried numerous classes and books, but what I liked about Rise is that it is a one-stop shop. I no longer needed to juggle multiple books or platforms to prepare for the LSAT. On Rise’s LSAT Lab platform, I made use of the study plan, live classes and recordings, office hours, milestones, and problem sets to work on the weakest areas. The platform is gamified in a way that I was excited to complete different milestones and grew to enjoy studying the LSAT.
Rise made studying for the LSAT like an enjoyable college class. There are weekly assignments/homework, tests, classes, classmates to work with, and constant feedback about how you are progressing. Additionally, the instructors are the absolute best (and I have cycled through many different teachers and approaches). They use humor and break down all the steps to digest them and, most importantly, help you every step of the way to understand your thought process. I truly owe the future I hope to have as an attorney one day to Rise and LSAT Lab for helping me master this learnable test. The most valuable thing they taught me is to see the LSAT not as a hurdle to get over but as something to invest time and love into and see it as an investment into your future. I learned more about myself studying for this test than I ever imagined. Thank you, Rise and LSAT Lab!"
Alexis A.
p
151-164-168
Columbia Law
"After taking my first diagnostic test, I was nervous that the law schools I was hoping to apply to would be completely out of reach. Having never been tested in logic before, the logic games and logical reasoning sections definitely shook my confidence in myself. Over the course of the Rise program, however, I started to build the foundational skills that would help me lose my fear of the exam, and even embrace it as a key aspect of my preparation for law school. The LSAT Lab platform is so intuitive. The milestone structure helped me understand my strengths and weaknesses, and the question bank allowed me to hone in on specific questions. But beyond the online platform itself, it is the people within the Rise program that make it such an incredible experience for students preparing for the LSAT. Our instructor was so invested in our progress. She made sure to answer all of our questions, and crafted classes and mindfulness exercises that addressed our needs. On a personal level, she helped me believe in my potential. Our class cohort also provided a supportive community that reminded me I wasn’t alone in this process. By test day, I felt ready to tackle any section that came my way. My score improved 16 points overall. I am so grateful to the Rise program for helping me get closer to the law school of my dreams!"
Nayleth L.
p
148-164
Boston University Law
"Laura Damone is a singular talent. In regard to the LSAT, her knowledge is encyclopedic. Her attention to my weaknesses and her ability to provide targeted exercises to address said weaknesses are also why I worked with her as long as I did. She is also a warm, heartfelt teacher. She has an uncanny ability to provide just the right amount of sincere emotional support mixed with a dab of tough love to keep you on track. My LSAT journey included many setbacks where I didn't see the progress I'd hoped for. Laura would pick the right words to say or share an apt experience of hers that would give me hope and put my experience into context, allowing me to quickly get back in the saddle after I had fallen off. I could easily see her being an excellent therapist. Such is her ability to attune herself to your emotional state. With Laura, mountains look like hills.
I would also be remiss if I didn't mention her personal statement advising abilities. Laura generously looked over my personal statement, diversity statement, and various addenda documents. By the time I showed her my essays, I had already done numerous revisions with a friend, who is a professor in the humanities, and two pre-law advisors. With Laura, however, my materials reached another level. She could hone in on points of disjointedness to rectify, and thematic undercurrents to emphasize. Thanks to her feedback, coupled with her conviction that I could do better, my essays improved beyond what I thought possible.
Her critiques of my addenda also allowed me to address weak points in my application. Laura could suss out where more context was required and where ambiguous phrasing worked against me. It’s no exaggeration to say that my time with Laura was worth it just for her help with the application process alone.
In sum, Laura Damone has a gift. I hope she continues to share it with others. I am so happy I met Laura and I'm sure her future students will be too."
Andre P.
p
156-168
Fordham Law
Sotomayor Judicial Intern
"The Rise program was the most fantastic resource for LSAT preparation. Through one-on-one meetings to create personalized, weekly study plans, digestible pre-recorded lectures, and live classes where I could get questions answered immediately, I raised my score by 10 points! You can tell everyone on the team wants nothing more than your success, and the platform is user-friendly. I would highly recommend Rise and their partnerLSATLab for not only the actual test preparation but their personal support as you navigate the exam process, as well."
Jessebell G.
p
155-165
University of Miami Law
Full Ride
"It was incredibly helpful to have the structure of the weekly Rise classes during my LSAT prep. I didn't know much about the LSAT before I started the program, and the classes gave me a good way to organize my studying. In addition to the weekly classes, it was also helpful to have access to the entire LSAT Lab video library and the option to attend additional classes. I thought the Rise classes were accessible and useful to everyone regardless of where we were in the LSAT prep process, and I was able to further fine-tune the skills I learned there in the advanced classes offered through the platform. The platform itself was easy and intuitive to use, and it was easy for me to figure out which areas I needed to work on, particularly in LR, using the analytics. The entire LSAT Lab team was also very responsive through the chat function both for LSAT questions and tech assistance. I particularly liked getting a summary of my activity on the platform each week.
Working with Laura was wonderful! Her office hours were really helpful because she was patient and thorough when explaining concepts, and she took the time to give me tailored advice on how to approach different sections. She provided support throughout the entire process including preparation leading up to the exam, advice on whether to keep or cancel my score, and recommendations on specific steps I can take to improve my score when I decided to take it a second time. She truly went above and beyond, and it was obvious from every interaction that she is invested and rooting for me to succeed.
The highlight of the Rise program for me was my study group. They have been such an invaluable source of support for me during the test prep process. Since we had different strengths, we were all able to get and give advice on how to approach different questions and sections, and it was also a really great way to have accountability. More than that, however, we were able to encourage and support each other and become friends. It was such an affirming experience to have a community of peers who have had similar experiences and share the same aspirations."
Hanna E.
p
157-164-174
Georgetown Law
"I saw a 20 point increase in my LSAT score and I have nothing more to thank than the Rise LSAT program. The sheer design of the course suited exactly what I was looking for in a learning program. I am an experiential learner. I also find that I need structure and a consistent plan that I can trust. The program offered exactly that. I never felt like I was falling behind when I followed the lesson plan, did my homework, watched the pre-recorded videos and attended the live sessions. Having a live component to the class was also game changing. It gave me the chance to talk through my approach to questions and ensure that I was thinking about things in the right way. The program really helped create a community around the test. I did not feel alone studying and had a constant source of motivation from my very kind instructor, Laura! I am very grateful for the program."
Josiah L.
p
148-168
Harvard Law
"I am incredibly grateful to have participated in the Rise program through SEO Law Catalyst. With the combination of live classes, asynchronous assignments on LSAT Lab, proctored exams, and access to preparation materials, I scored 20 points higher from my diagnostic on the LSAT exam in June 2022 after just six months of preparation. As I was working both a full-time and a part-time job to financially support myself after college and could not afford to pay for preparation materials, I could not have accomplished my score without the Rise program's support. In particular, I appreciated Laura's pedagogical approach to live classes, which honed my understanding of key concepts and allowed me to learn from how others in my cohort approached problems. The program kept me accountable and offered me the resources to achieve my goals, and I am excited to apply for law schools this fall knowing that I'm a competitive candidate."
